63.5 kilos nooooo!

Weighing in this morning with a little optimism, I was expecting at least 2 kilo decrease, I had been feeling tighter & lighter with friends complimenting me on my fit & healthy look. I have run a 56k ultra & 2 x30k training runs this month which is good running in my book/blog! 
So I hopped on the scales of truth only to find I am still in the 63 kilos category of heavydom. (Not smiley face)
So what do I do? Eat nothing but celery sticks & green juice to detox my body into submission. No, I eat a bag of corn chips... The whole damn bag. With dips. & I'm going to have a vegan pizza tonight. With extra everything!!! The beach bikini body I had envisioned for Thailand is obtainable only on a starvation diet apparently, clearly not that obtainable for my healthy eating mind & slightly squidgy round the edges physique. 
This weekend, with a plethora of appointments & a to do list of extraordinary proportions I am not going on my usual longer run, instead an itinerary of yoga classes & achievable exercise to squeeze in. So not much calorie burning & kilo shedding but who actually cares??? I do feel fit & fabulous for the next few weeks of worldly travels & will try to keep active on my globetrotting adventure.
Life is for living. Eat, live, love xox

Sometimes....

You want to just stop.

You don’t feel good

Your mind tells you ‘you can’t’

Your legs feel the pain

You look at the path ahead with fear

You wish you were back in bed

You beat yourself up

You struggle to get into your groove

You can’t see the wood for the trees…

Sound familiar? In life. On the trail. Sometimes we just don’t have the energy, the motivation/momentum or the inclination. & when I was faced with the very steep incline on St. Leonard’s mountain on Saturday I felt all of the above. 

My muscles burned, my breath was hard to catch, I was defeated & down in the running dumps. There are days when running is harder than others. 

This weekend my functions & feelings were fatigued. & running felt heavy & laden with problems both physical & mental.

BUT I made it to the top. Yay to the yay. Slowly but surely. With mind over matter. I didn't think I could reach the heady heights. BUT I did finish on a mountain high. & after 12.5k of uphill I think it was a pretty massive mountainous challenge to conquer. I believe in redefining MY impossible!

Happy to be....

ALIVE!!! at the end of this insanely intense work week!!!

Going for a long trail 40k with my little runner friend tomorrow day ~ yay to the yay.
After a mad busy fashion world week, styling a catwalk, shooting a lookbook, I'm looking forward to running the sartorial mayhem away with another new adventure run, an escape from the city & from reality!

& I think these beautiful photos show my happiness & amazing environment when I'm out on the trails...

HAPPY WEEKENDS, MUCH LUVS & RUNNING & APPRECIATION OF LIVING & GOOD VIBES XOX

Fitness diaries & desires

This has been my recovery week. Next week I'm cranking it up again with a 40k run planned in. Here's my diary for last week & my ambitions for the week ahead.....

Monday ~ rest day lying in the sun after the 56k run on the Sunday!!
Tuesday~ 5k easy run + light PT session
Weds.  ~ 5k run + Hatha yoga
Thurs. ~ 7k run + Pilates reformer + PT session
Friday ~ 10k run + Pilates reformer
Sat.   ~ ashtanga yoga (inc. headstand woohoo)
Sunday.~ 2x 10k runs (1 morning x 1 eve) 

Monday ~ 10k run + Pilates reformer + power yoga
Tuesday~ 10k run + Pilates reformer
Weds.  ~ 6k run + ashtanga yoga
Thurs. ~ 10k run + Pilates reformer + PT session?
Friday ~ 6k run + Pilates reformer 
Sat.   ~ 40k trail run (excited!!)
Sunday ~ rest day yay ;) 

Have a good week of health & running & zen & watching the men's tennis!!! <3 

two bays finish line...

Not looking too damn hot/bad at the finish of the awesome 'two bays trail run' well I had just ran 56k's =) It was a stunning sunny day & I was luving life right there. As Pharrell is hotly singing right now ~ HAPPY!!! 

hey hot chicka!

So hot right now! This week in Melbourne it's pretty much hitting 40 melting degrees every sultry day. Too hot for running but I'm still getting the k's in in the morning before it gets too stifling & I get too sweaty, it's like running in a sauna!

Putting in some time at the air conditioned gym doing yoga & pilates & then eating much melon, cantaloupes & watermelons are my hit this week. 
& I made this super lush easy salad for sitting on the sofa trying to stay cool & watching the mens tennis at the Australian open, watching them sweat it out. LUV Nadal, Djokovic, Federer & co. turning on the heat. So perfect to watch with this delish dish.....

SPICY CHICKA PEA SALAD 
1 tin drained chick peas
3-4 diced tomatoes
1/4 diced cucumber
sliced iceberg lettuce
juice of 1 lemon
Olive oil
pink salt & pepper
cayenne pepper (as desired)
fresh coriander chopped
Mixed up & serve chilled

& HOT PITA CHIPS
wholemeal pita bread cut into segments
& sprayed with olive oil
& lemon pepper sprinkled on top
Then baked in oven until crisp

Try not to eat all the pita chips pink lass!!!

I run to be...

& fit. & happy. & toned. & zen. & a good human. & alive. & invigorated. & hot. & strong. & amazing. & focused. & enlightened. & ready. & healthy. & energised. & tenacious. & spunky. & joyful. & peaceful. & present. & ecstatic. & conditioned. & feel sexy. & conscious. & tickled pink!

My two bays trail tale

Just back from the beach. Salt water & sunshine being sensational restoration for an ultra marathon runners mind & body. Race assimilated, here's my story... 

The Setting: The Mornington peninsula in Victoria, Australia
The race: 56k ultra marathon trail race
The field: Around 220 runners
The time: 7.10am on Sunday 12th January 2014 
The vibe: Happy hawaiian beachy

When your alarm goes off at 5am on a Sunday morning you're a little shocked. But then the race reality sets in & it's all systems go, eat bananas, dress up like a real runner, drink water & electrolytes, fill hydration pack, eat bliss balls, go toilet, get in car to go & get nervous. I love all the ritual & my routine is so smooth as a good pinot noir =) 
My friend Charlotte drove me to the start (thank u my beautiful angel friend) & I got to Cape Shanck lighthouse at the start of this fabulously organised event. A chilly sea breeze cooling the air, overcast skies, the perfect weather for an ultra mega run. I collected my race no. & chilled out chatting to the congregating running crowd, a caring community of good hearted strong willed athletes, fit folk & hot blokes!!!
There was a hawaiian theme fancy dress at which I felt under dressed & very jealous of a pink hula skirt spotted in the crowd of muscular toned legs. & then all the legs were on the move, we were running the two bays 56k.
As the pace rolled out on a single track I felt a little stifled but went with the flow until I could break out into a pace that I could roll with on the undulating sandy trails. With the ocean to our left & sweeping hills to our right, fresh air & pink hair I felt great from the start.
The trail took us through forest & until we hit a big uphill I had ran all the way. Reaching the top with around 4k to go to the half way point I was wobbling & then the first guys were on the return leg - divine incredible creatures.
It was all delicious descent to the the half way point & I remembered my friends advice of relaxing into your downhill running & I ran fast k's all the way feeling like I was flying. Flippin amazin. 
& with all the runners around me supporting one another, chatting along the course & high 5ing the sense of being a part of something special was strong. Like all the legs & willpower beheld by my comrades everyone heros & heroines.
Charlotte joined me on the reverse ascent to the top of 'Arthur's seat' it was good to have her company & chats to take my mind off the hill (pretty massive hill). I remember discussing the way to lose weight. Not eat. Which became a hot topic between the runners around us. All in agreement. But it's so hard to not eat. I luv food. & I luv eating. Lots. All in agreement. 
Before long though I was off on my lonesome on the long path back. With water stations stocked with very wonderful volunteers I broke up the run into 5k's to help me through. It was around 44k that I wished the k's away. A second wind got me through to 52k. The last 2k I wanted to die. But thankfully I didn't & crossed the sunny finish line in 6 hours 32 mins.
On the natural high that only that significant distance & the determination needed to complete it can bring. & the 61/2 hour meditation brings serenity for days after. & with no tightness in my muscles, a light jog & weight training today I'm dreaming of my next trail.....
Good night xox

one pot pinky pasta

I'm making this as my carb loaded feast for my run on sun - two bays trail run. One pot pinky pasta...

16 oz gluten free lentil pasta

1 can diced tomatoes

10-12 sun-dried tomatoes chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

A few big sprigs basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon chopped chives

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups water

salt + pepper

In a large pot combine the ingredients listed above (except sun-dried tomatoes) Bring the liquid to a roaring boil. Then simmer cook for 10 mins or until the pasta is al dente. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes just before serving.

Yum. & only 1 pot to wash =)

Equanimity...

Mental calmness & composure in a difficult situation ~ Equanimity. noun.

Please give me some equanimity for this coming Sunday (12th Jan) for the 'two bays trail run' 56k ultra marathon. Feeling tight & tired after too much raving & no behaving I think I will need some inner strength & will have to dig deep (to where I ask) anyways I'll have to haul my (heavier) ass to get to the finish line this time. & speaking of times I'm going to go for a 6 to 61/2 hour finish, no pressure pink one.

My preparation week looks like this ... A blend of strength & stretching, speed & easy runs with a hill train too, a good balance before I run hard.

Sunday - 20k easy run
Monday - pilates reformer + 6k run + spin class
Tuesday - personal training + 10k run (with hill sprints)
Wednesday - hatha yoga + 10k run
Thursday - pilates reformer + 10k run
Friday - pilates reformer + 6k run
Saturday - ashtanga yoga & rest
Sunday - RUN PINK LASS RUN!!!

Will be uploading pics & race report so you can find out how I fare. Looking forward to being free out there. Trail running luvs xo

    

Birthday cake!!!

My diet month begins tomorrow.. After my birthday of course!! 38 years young today, that's something that needs to be celebrated. So my last day of indulgence inspired me to bake this vegan carrot cake..

225g grated carrot
170g sultanas
275g self raising wholemeal flour
170g brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
200ml walnut oil
200ml water
Tblsp apple cider vinegar
Tsp baking soda
Tsp vanilla 
Pinch sea salt

Preheat the oven to 190c, stir all the dry ingredients then add the wet ones. Put into greased cake tin & bake for 50 - 60 mins.

Happy birthday cake from me xox 

new year, new beginnings

Newness is what I'm constantly searching for in my job as a fashion forecaster; new trends, next season, contemporary, modernity, state of the art, "so last year!" 

So what exactly in 2014 can I start. After the success of last year what could I do to better myself? To be a new me...

So I had a run through of goals with my personal trainer last night to put into perspective my weight loss aspirations. I am writing this to put it out to the universe - I want to lose 4 kilos. Weighing in at 63.3 kilos last night, I have to exercise portion control to shave off the last few pounds to achieve the lean physique I desire. This is going to be my hardest challenge. But with a bikini fit body needed for Thailand next month this may be the motivation I need.

Thinking that losing the extra weight will give me lightness for the longer distances. Let's hope so.

Will weigh in every Friday for the next 4 weeks, please wish me luck & send me good food vibes!! & I'll keep updating delicious diet food recipes that I hope I discover =) & the diet begins... now.

Current weight = 63.3kg

Target weight = 59kg

2014... make it happen!!!